Hundreds Of People Turn Out For Eel Festival and Town Crier Competition

GLORIOUS sunshine and hundreds of visitors made for an Eel Day to remember on Saturday as the city paid homage to its famous namesake, the eel. Hundreds of people made the trip into the centre of Ely to take part in the event with a host of activities inc

GLORIOUS sunshine and hundreds of visitors made for an Eel Day to remember on Saturday as the city paid homage to its famous namesake, the eel.

Hundreds of people made the trip into the centre of Ely to take part in the event with a host of activities including eel throwing, parades, history demonstrations and the traditional town crier competition keeping people entertained at Jubilee Gardens for hours.

Ely Samba Band led the traditional procession from Ely Cathedral down to the Eel Day venue in Jubilee Gardens with an Eel King and Queen helping to carry a giant model eel through the city streets.

One of the highlights of the day was the traditional town crier competition with debutant John Stevens from Alnwick in Northumberland taking the title from three-time champion John Needham from Colchester.

Terry Stubbins a crier from Lincoln won best themed cry and best dressed crier went to James Wearne, the Felixstowe Town Crier.

Ely's Town Crier, Avril Hayter-Smith, said: "The day was absolutely brilliant, the weather was wonderful and there was a really good attendance particularly for the town crier event which people really enjoyed."

Photos: HELEN DRAKE

6122: Avril Hayter-Smith and Pearl Copewell, the Peterborough Town Crier.